San Diego Chargers begin interviewing GM candidates

SAN DIEGO -- Jimmy Raye, San Diego's director of player personnel, apparently was the first candidate to interview to replace fired Chargers general manager A.J. Smith.

Ron Wolf, the former Green Bay Packers GM who's serving as a consultant for Chargers president Dean Spanos, said in a conference call Wednesday that the first interview was Tuesday in San Diego. Asked if that interview was with an outside candidate, Wolf said: "Not to my knowledge."

Spanos confirmed on Monday that Raye is among the candidates to replace Smith, who was fired along with coach Norv Turner. The team is declining to identify other candidates.

Raye, a former wide receiver at San Diego State who's been with the Chargers for 17 seasons, didn't return calls or a text seeking comment.

Wolf said he was in San Diego on Tuesday but had returned to his home in Jupiter, Fla., on Wednesday.

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The Chargers said Monday that the interviews will be conducted by Wolf, Spanos, assistant GM Ed McGuire and Spanos' son, John, the director of college scouting. Dean Spanos will make the final choice, and the new GM will join those four in picking a new coach.

However, with several teams looking for coaches and GMs, the Chargers said their group "will remain as flexible as necessary to attract the best possible candidates for both positions."

Wolf said he's gotten more than 50 calls about the GM job since Monday.

"My phone hasn't stopped ringing. That's an indication of how the people within the league view the opportunity to go to work for the Chargers," Wolf said.